Read Warrior (The Key to Magic) Online
Authors: H. Jonas Rhynedahll
Lord Ghorn and the First Army appeared likely to be also annihilated.
He had incidentally condemned himself to death, but his primary concern over this consequence was that he would no longer be alive to thwart the designs of the Brotherhood.
Mhajhkaei and its people would be safe for now, but how long would it be before the monks rebuilt their war machines and sent out another conquering army?
He glanced another time at the globe and realized that it was noticeably closer. Watching it for a subjective moment, he saw that even in the stolen time of his spell, the blazing white surface of the blast advanced at a rate of better than a half-fingerlength per score of seconds. In normal time, it must be moving at a speed faster than the lightning.
The glacial pace of time notwithstanding, it would reach him very soon.
He was sure that he could not stop it, but could he stop the blast before it had begun?
Whinseschlos had left him with the impression that events were easily overturned. With the knowledge that he now had, could he salvage the situation with wizardry?
The strange place in between that he had entered before must be the boundary fringe that
Whinseschlos
had spoken of. He would have to plunge in this time, find the depths where he could freely steal through time.
He might die there, but he was certain to die here, and if he lived, he might be able to turn disaster into victory.
With considerable ease, he opened a path to the high-pitched teal with a blade of purest Black and looked into the maw of undertime.
The way stood open.
Mar dove in.
SIXTY-TWO
The sorcerer screamed a blistering curse and threw the skrying tablet across the room in a fit of hideous rage.
"Idiot! What have you done?"
"I have saved Mar from us," Waleck replied.
The Key to Magic continues in Book VI: Wizard (2013)
ADDENDUM
The Forty-Nine (give or take) Gods
(One scholarly accounting numbers the Forty-Nine at three hundred and eight distinct deities. This sum is, naturally, subject to strident dispute.)
Aenhishk'lhe, Stepchild of the Leafy Goddess
Awandrehachor, God of Poems and Sonnets
Alosth, Sublime Half-Quarter-Goddess of the Rapine of Civilization
B'g'n, God of Games
Bhalrgam, Mystical Lord of the Fleet of Foot
Bhenthiabuka, God of Condiments
Bhist-gem-naet, fertility goddess
Bhurghrah, God of Waste, Sewage, and Refuse
Bhizg'g, God of the Malformed and patron of all beggars.
Bligyld, Goddess of Eternal Hatred.
Borloi'gh'nyh, Archfriend of Arsonists and Clumsy Fools
Chaoel, Ascending Goddess of the Marvelous Loom
Cyhalis’ts’psqo, God of Boats, ships, rafts, and buckets of all sorts
Ephtehg’rha, Lord of Shipwrecks
Fflygao, the Under Oligarch of Foliage
Fhos'tg, Superior Exalted Half-Goddess of Unexpected Events
Gheshuai -- Chief Suzerain of Unhappy Marriages, Cuckolds, and Oppressed Husbands
Gwolth, Invisible Ultimate Priestess of the Arcane Rites of Sand
Gz’l, God of Heretics
J'yorstagnoephiactle, Patron of Rat Catchers.
Khas'thga, Patron of the Arrow
Knorthrha the Night God
Luftorh, God of the Oceans
Mhokh, God of Death
Mehl-shzu, God of Nautical Trades
Miyra, Goddess of Love
Myrae'n the Snake Goddess
Nhal-bhy-chu, Goddess Mother of Chance Events
Nhish, Goddess of Grain
Nlarlt, Patron of the Sword
N'm, God of Seafood
Oahkthegk, God-Regent of mountains and deserts (and all ancillary terrain, inhabitants, and conditions)
Oos'ghlsiana, Mistress of Forests, Seedlings, and Shade.
Pernaphrhan, Overseer of Trickery
Pju, Patron of the Spear
Plegh, The Unknowing God
Ply'nhor'chou'rhast'kif'slptitu, Lord of the Obscure
Ptem-ko-ah, God of the Outerworld
Pwrll, Benevolent Guardian of Household Pets. The Seventy-Eight Handmaidens of Pwrll are often depicted as animalistic spirits in the forms of cats and dogs.
Phrusht, Guardian of the Drowned
Rwalkahn, Demigod of Righteous Vengeance
Rwalkahn, in his rival persona as 32
nd
Avatar of Pernaphrhan
S'lskaigho, Protector of Forgotten Things
Shurzha, God of Purity
Sloe'mhyl, Seneschal of Hospitality
Soohlmed, God of Idiocy
Thiallia, Goddess of Compassion
Trhoozh, Master of Luck
W’aerliq, God of Forests, Meadows, and Trees in general. In some cultures, also the God of the Hunt.
z'm, Demigoddess of Jocularity
Zzgssii, the Leafy Goddess, whose various incarnations are distinguished by the placement of key leaves in her bodice
Zsnigh-mhi, Demigod of Tile roofs, Sheds, and Cisterns
Military Ranks of the Reconstituted Empire
(Adapted from Mhajhkaeirii'n practice)
Prince-Commander –Supreme commander of all Mhajhkaeirii forces.
High-Captain – Marine rank. Commands a brigade (five troops).
Knight-Commander – Legion rank. Commands a corps (five legions plus support units.)
Captain – Marine rank. Commands a full Troop (400 men)
Coirneal (Imperial Addition) -- Legion and marine rank.
Maidsear (Imperial Addition) -- Legion and marine rank.
Commander – Legion rank. Commands a full Legion (1000 men)
Vice-Captain – Marine rank. Commands a half-troop (200 men)
Subaltern – Marine rank. Commands a quarter-troop (100 men)
Vice-Commander –Legion Rank. Commands five sections (500 men).
Legate – Legion rank. Commands a Section (100 men).
Quaestor -- Legion Quartermaster rank equivalent to Subaltern/Legate.
Fugleman – Commands a file (6 quads, 25 men including the Fugleman)
Ceannaire -- Commands a quad
Legionnaire
Superior Armsman -- Militia rank
Trainee
A note regarding the Imperial Calendar:
The Imperial year consists of thirteen lunar months of twenty-eight days each: First through Third Springmoon, First through Third Summermoon, Harvestmoon, First through Third Autumnmoon, and First through Third Wintermoon. Each month is divided into two fortnights, Waxing and Waning and each fortnight is divided into fourteen named days: Firstday through Fourteenthday.
The length of years does not vary; all years are exactly three hundred and sixty-four days.
The accounting of years is entirely arbitrary, varying with location and political and social circumstances, and although the Imperial system is generally accepted, there is no single universal standard.
However, the following are in common use throughout the world:
Thirdday of every fortnight is the holy day of all Gods.
No day in the month of Harvestmoon is a holy day.
Eighthday is the end of the merchant fiscal cycle.
Summer Advent is the first day of First Summermoon and is in many locales celebrated as a special holy day.
Table of Contents